Car parking system and structure



Dec. 22, 1953 w. M. ELIOT 2,663,435

CAR PARKING SYSTEM AND STRUCTURE Filed June 18, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet l 6nn R I I INVENTOR. Mu/AM Mae 52107 Dec. 22, 1953 iled June 18, 1948 W. M.ELIOT CAR PARKING SYSTEM AND STRUCTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYSPatented Dec. 22, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE This inventionrelates to a multi-storied parking structure and to a system of parkingloads therein, especially mobile loads such as automobiles and trucks.

It is an object of this invention to pro-vide a parking structure ofthis class in which a traction means supported by the structure has anelevator suspended therefrom so that the traction means may move theelevator and the loads therein horizontally, and so that the elevatormay move the loads vertically into alignment with the desired storyfloor.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a structure of thisclass in which elevator guides are supported from the traction means andare transported thereby.

It is another object of this invention to provide such structure with away extending substantially parallel with the direction of traction andengageable by the elevator guides for the purpose of holding theelevator in alignment with the traction means and with the elevatoraisle axis.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a structure of thisclass in which the elevator and elevator guides are pivotally suspendedfrom a traction means to provide compensation for any misalignmentbetween the axes of the way and the traction means and its supports.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a structure ofthis class in which the elevator has either slidable or rolling meansthereon for maintaining contact with the elevator guides.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a structure of thisclass in which the elevator guides have either slidable or rolling meansthereon for maintaining contact with the way.

It is a further object of this invention to provide structures of thisclass having the parts thereof adapted for mass fabrication.

It is also an object of this invention to provide structures of thisclass which may have aisles therein in which elevator and elevatorguides are suspended for transportation therealong and for verticalmotion therein to provide access of elevator loads to the load storagespaces of every floor.

It is a further object of this invention to provide structures of thisclass in which elevator floors may be brought into alignment with thestory floors within such limits that the: elevators do not bind theaisle sides and so that there is a minimum interspace left betweenfloors to permit easy passage of loads thereover.

It is also an object of this invention to provide structures of thisclass adaptable for use where only a small street frontage is available.

It is a further object of this invention to provide structures of thisclass which may be equipped with turntables in cases where the samegeneral limited area may have to be used for both entrance and exit.

It is also an object of this invention to provide structures of thisclass which may be equipped with a plurality of elevators or which maybe equipped with single elevator units which may carry a plurality ofcars.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide structures of thisclass which may be provided with horizontally moving traction meansbelow the elevators, and with the elevators suspended from a beamsupported by the traction means after the manner of a gantry crane.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a method of movingloads horizontally and vertically to and from storage spaces in amultistoried structure.

It is also an object of this invention to provide structures of thisclass having the parts thereof adapted for quick assembly, disassembly,movement, and re-assembly.

Other and further objects of this invention will be obvious when thespecification is considered in connection with the drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation taken transversely of a parkingstructure;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional elevation taken along line 2-2 ofFig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional elevation taken along line 3-3 of Fig.2;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional elevation taken along line 44 of Fig.1;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional plan taken along line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of an optional constructionto that shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional elevation taken along line 11 of Fig.6.

In this invention a building structure 5 is shown having an entrancedriveway 2 which leads to a car or load-receiving area 3 whichterminates in an aisle 4, on the other side of which is a car orload-delivery area 5 which communicates with the exit driveway 6 on theexterior of the structure.

In the form of this invention disclosed, the aisle 4 terminates belowthe first floor level in an aisle floor 3. The structure may have anynumber of intermediate floors i, one being shown in Fig. l, and a topfloor 8, above which is the roof 9, which supports a cupola I ll. Beamsll are located on the roof 9 adjacent the aisles to provide tracks for atransmission means such as a bridge crane l2. 5

The means for operating the elevator 20 and bridge crane i2 are notshown but these elements would logically be mounted on the bridge craneit, behind the guard l6, and supplied from a source of electric power inthe conventional manner.

The elevator 2i! is shown suspended from the bridge crane 12 bysuspension 1ines M which are reeved through pulleys l5 mounted on theelevator top for actuation by the elevator operating means beneath theguard l6. The elevator control is not shown, but would be located behindthe elevator side plate [9, and the electric control line i8 is shownextending therefrom up to the bridge crane Hi to actuate the elevatoroperating means. I

In order to maintain the elevator in alignment as the bridge crane itcarries it down the aisle e, elevator guides 2i are provided for pivotedsuspension from the crane, and these guides extend to substantially thebottom of the aisle 4. A track or way 22 is provided on the aisle floorl3, and such way is adapted to receive rollers 23 which extend from thebottom plate 24 of the guides 2i and are supported for rotation fromthis plate.

The guides 2! on either side of the elevator are tied together at thebottom by channels 25 and at the top by channels 2%. This constructionof guides and cross-channels results in a yoke unit 35. When this yoke3c is pivotally, rather than rigidly, suspended from the bridge craneIt, a flexibility is obtained which permits compensation for anymisalignment which may occur between the bridge crane axis of motion andits supporting track II and the way 22 in the aisle floor 13.

Any operative means may be employed to permit the yoke so to pivottransversely of the lonitudinal axis of the way 22 and the bridge cranel2, and two forms by which this may be accomplished are disclosed in thedrawings.

A gusset or pin plate 2'! may be welded to both sides of the bridgecrane base H, as shown in Fig. 2. Holes are then drilled into thechannels 23 and I-beams 29, which form the guides, and then pins 3! arewelded in these holes. The pin ends 33 are then inserted in holes 32 inthe pin plates 27, and the channels 25 and 26 are then bolted to theguides to complete the assembly of yoke 35] with bridge crane l2. Thepins 3! may be welded to the plates 27 and journalled in the guides 2%to accomplish the same functions.

Optionally, as shown in Figs. 6 and '7, a plate 35 may be welded to thetop 36 of the bridge crane base i'l, and the top of this plate may thenbe bolted between the channels 26 in the assembly of yoke Eli and bridgecrane l2. This results in constituting that part of the plate 35 betweenthe bottom of the channels 25 and the top of the bridge crane base 35 asthe source of flexibility about which the yoke 38 may pivot. Alternatelythe plate 35 may be welded to the channels 26 and bolted to the bridgecrane base ll and the same results obtained. Also, the connectionbetween bridge crane l2 and yoke may be made with the plate below thebridge crane, either rigidly fixed to the base I? and bolted to the yokeor vice versa.

A third construction, not shown, may consist of drilled pin plates onboth guides 21 and bridge crane'base i l which constitute the journalmembers into which pins may be inserted to pivotally connect yoke 3d andbridge crane base l7.

With any of these constructions, in case the track beam I! or the way 22become warped or shifted in position, the pivotability of the yoke 39about the bridge crane I2 compensates therefor so that the cranecontinues to ride the track beams H without binding against either sideof the track or without tending to jump off of the track.

I Compensation is also provided for any vertical warpage of the trackbeams 'l resulting in portions thereof being higher than other portions,since the rollers 23 may slide along the inner faces 34 of the way 22 atdifferent elevations.

The channel 28 and the inner I-beam flange 353 are shown cut away justbelow channels 26 so that only the I-beam web 39 extends between thechannels 2% and is bolted thereto. In turn, the channels 26 are shownextending just short of the outer I-bearn flange I The contactbetweenlthe elevator is and the elevator guides 2! may be maintained byany slidable engagement therebetween. In the form disclosed in Fig. 5,rollers lt-and it are mounted in the top rim M5 and bottom rim ill ofthe ele' vator 29 to contact the flanges of channel 2t. Also, rollers 48are mounted for rotation on the brackets M, which are fixed to theelevator top it and bottom 55 to position the roller it in rollingcontact with the back 49 of the channel 25.

The structure of this invention is especially adapted for employment inthe center of cities where only a limited street frontage may beavailable as the entrance for cars which are to be parked in garagespace extending longitudinally and parallel with the street and behindbusiness buildings which front on the street. In such cases the cars maydrive into the load receiving area 3, which is the width of the narrowstreet entrance 2, not shown, and from this point the cars are driven onto the elevator 253. The elevator may then be raised to any floor level,and it is possible to do this while the bridge crane I? may at the sametime be moving the elevator 26 horizontally down the aisle 4 to anystorage space 52 where it may be desired to unload the car.

The elevator may be of a width to receive a plurality of cars and thestorage spaces i may extend from the aisle for the length of a pluralityof cars. With this arrangement, if it is desired to obtain a first carparked outwardly from the aisle and in front of a second car parked nextto the aisle, the second car could be backed onto the elevator at; thenthe elevator 28 could be moved horizontally one car space so that thefirst car could then be backed onto the elevator adjacent the secondcar. After this, the elevator could be moved horizontally back to wherethe second car was originally backed thereon so that this car could bedriven back into its original parking space.

An alternate means of accomplishing the result of this invention mayconsist of a structure, not shown, similar to a gantry crane which wouldmove on tracks down the aisle t by a traction means in contact with suchtracks. In such structure posts would extend vertically upward from themovable gantry crane base, and the horizontally extending gantry beam atthe top thereof would have the elevating means suspended therefrom with,elevator guides on either side extending from the gantry beam to thebase.

With the structure of this invention it is not necessary to have thesides 53 of the elevator sliding in contact with any guide means afiixedto the aisle sides 55, as is necessary in other parking structures. Themethod of pivotally suspending the guide means from the traction meansitself so that the guides are carried along horizontally by the tractionmeans does away with the difficulties previously encountered due to thevariations of the transverse difierences between guides on oppositesides of the aisle. When such variations were at all pronounced, anelevator which would easily pass upwardly or horizontally along one partof the aisle might bind against guides in another part of the aislewhich were closer together.

With this invention a small interspace 55 may be left between elevatorfloor 56 and the story floors, and such space may be predetermined ofsuch a width to compensate for any variations in aisle width which maybe encountered.

It is pointed out that the conventional guard rails and car stops whichcould obviously be required for elevator operation have been omitted forpurposes of clarity.

Although the drawings of this invention disclose a structure in whichthe elevator moves down an aisle centrally of parking space on eitherside thereof, this invention is also applicable to structures and toconditions where there may be only storage space on one side of thepassage down which the elevator passes.

In cases where it is desired to have the vehicles enter and depart bythe same paths, any well known turntable means may be incorporated withthe elevator to accomplish this purpose.

The way 22 may be moved from place to place, and the building itself,together with the bridge crane and track unit, may be constructed to beeasily taken down, moved, and reassembled. Also the feature by which theguides 2| are bolted to the cross channels 26 and in assembly to formthe yoke 30 in suspension from the bridge crane l2, results in thefacile dismantlement of these elements. These features, taken together,result in a parking or storage structure which is adapted to be movedand set up in new locations, as when real estate values in the businesscenters of cities prohibit the further use of space therein for suchpurposes.

This invention is not limited to the specific traction means andelevator suspensions hereinbefore shown and described but otherconventional and suitable types may be used. The elevator may besuspended from trolley hoists mounted on trolley beams supported from,and below buildings portions extending above the passageway down whichthe elevator moves horizontally. Also, the traction means may move downa top floor or roof portion and have a cantilever arm extendingtherefrom to support the elevator for suspension and motion down apassageway adjacent and parallel to the area down which the tractionmeans moves.

It is also not considered that the point of yoke suspension need only beabove the traction means, but pivotal suspension may be obtainedtherefor by supporting the yoke below the traction means, as by rodsextending downwardly from traction means to yoke. In such construction,the inherent flexibility of the rods will constitute the source of yokepivotability.

Broadly, this invention considers a parking or storage system wherebyloads may be received and moved both horizontally and vertically tostorage spaces from which they may later be transported bothhorizontally and vertically for delivery from the storage structure.

This invention also broadly consider such a system in which theelevating means in which 6 the loads are transported is pivotallysupported by the traction means therefor.

What is claimed is:

l. A multi-storied storage structure having a load receiving anddelivery area, traction means supported by said structure, an elevatorsuspended by said traction means, a flexible vertical plate directly andrigidly connected to the forward end of said traction means and aflexible, vertical plate directly and rigidly connected to the rear endof said traction means, with the plate surfaces of said plates extendingin a substantially vertical plane and substantially parallel to a planethrough the axis of travel of said traction means, an elevator guide ateach end of said traction means along the axis of traction means travel,yoke means connecting said guides to said plates, and way meansextending substantially parallel to the path of travel of said tractionmeans for receiving said guides for horizontal motion therealong and topermit relative vertical motion thereof, said traction means andelevator serving respectively to move loads, such as automobiles,horizontally and vertically from area to storage and from storage toarea, the flexibility of said plates on said traction means permittingmovement of said guides in a plane transverse to the longitudinal axisof said traction means.

2. A multi-storied storage structure having a load receiving anddelivery area, traction means supported by said structure, an elevatorsupported by said traction means, a yoke comprising substantiallyvertically extending elevator guides and a member connected to, andextending between the tops of said guides, a flexible plate connectingthe forward end of said traction means to said member and a flexibleplate connecting the rear end of said traction mean to said member sothat said yoke is pivotally supported from said traction means by virtueof the flexibility of the plates, and way means extending substantiallyparallel with the path of travel of said traction means for receivingsaid guides for horizontal motion therealong and to permit relativevertical motion thereof.

3. A multi-storied structure having a load receiving and delivery area,an aisle in said structure, a horizontally moving traction means in saidaisle, an elevator suspended from said traction means, a yoke comprisingsubstantially vertically extending guides and a member connected to, andextending between the top of said guides, a plate adjacent each guideand extending substantially vertically from said member and directly andrigidly connected to said traction means, said plates having a smalldegree of flexibility transversely of the travel axis of the tractionmeans to permit the pivotability of the yoke about the traction means,and way means extending substantially parallel with the path of travelof said traction means for receiving said guides for horizontal motiontherealong and to permit relative vertical motion thereof.

WILLIAM MACK ELIOT.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 542,997 Dinkey July 23, 1895 1,288,567 Hall Dec. 24, 19131,713,459 Withyman May 14, 1929 1,714,945 Buhl May 28, 1929 1,807,075Skar et al May 26, 1931 1,874,859 Been Dec. 3, 1940 2,511,619 BowserJune 13, 1950

